I’ve Seen Hundreds of Bathrooms, and These Paint Colors Have Main Character Energy

The bathroom has long been a favorite spot for designers and design enthusiasts to experiment with color and pattern, as it’s often hidden from the rest of the house. This means the world is your oyster when selecting a color to paint your bathroom.

So whether you’re looking to create a high-impact, Instagram-worthy powder room or a spa-like retreat for your ensuite bath, at least one of these 31 bathroom paint color ideas will speak to your needs. You’ll be amazed at what a fresh coat of paint can do to revamp even a small bathroom.

With so many options and a bathroom that’s a blank slate, how do you decide which paint color to use? Below, I’ve listed some tips from Jennifer Guerin of JG Color Studios.

• Ensure the color works with your skin tone. “It may sound crazy, but certain colors can alter the appearance of your skin tone, creating chaos during your makeup routine. So know the hues that reflect best with your skin tone,” Guerin says.
• Select hues that harmonize with the existing elements. Statement color or no statement color, the countertop, tile, and accessories must coordinate, or it will look disjointed.
• Decide on the vibe. Want moody? “Go deep with Eggplant, Chocolate, or Charcoal,” Guerin advises. Want to keep it light and ethereal? “Light blushes such as Farrow & Ball’s Middleton Pink (No. 245), Tricia Guild’s Cloud No. 62 [no longer available], or Posh Paint’s Tourmaline (No. 59) are your best bet.”

With these tips in mind, keep reading to find inspiration on the best color for bathrooms.

The powder room in Yvonne Langen and Michael Rizk’s colorful home in Ottawa is special because of the beautiful blend of colors and wallpaper. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but the standout color is on the wainscotting. (It’s Graham & Brown’s Burnt Saffron.)

Morgan and Faye Hurley are a “designer and handyman duo,” so it’s no surprise that their maximalist Massachusetts home is full of color. And that includes the powder room drenched in Benjamin Moore’s San Antonio Rose (027). This color is so wonderful that it’s soft enough that you don’t feel overwhelmed by painting it on all the bathroom walls (including the ceiling!).

The bathroom is a space to Zen out, so it’s common to see these rooms dotted with greenery. What better color to complement your plants? This one seen in plant stylist Ella Moore’s eclectic Manchester home is Farrow & Ball’s Card Room Green (No. 79).

Benjamin Moore’s Golden Mist (2158-40) looks buttery, cozy, and inviting in designers Bo Shepherd and Kyle Dubay‘s powder room in their vintage-filled home. The color looks almost delicious enough to eat!

This Barcelona bathroom is colorful and vibrant, yet serene. Although the orange vanity is the showstopper, the pinkish-brown on the walls prevents it from being too loud. You can grab a similar shade with Sherwin-Williams’ Brandywine (SW 7710).

This U.K. stone cottage bathroom evokes the best thing about the English countryside: the rolling, green hills. Bold green paneling pairs fabulously with the green plants strewn about the space. Re-create this look in your own bathroom with Sherwin-Williams’ Talipot Palm (SW 6726).

This rich, grayish-blue hue in a Virginia townhouse bathroom gives off a deep sense of calm (important for busy mornings and spa-like evenings). Get the look with Sherwin-Williams’ Moody Blue (SW 6221).

This bathroom in Barcelona has a palette of rich browns, from the patterned flooring to the brick on the walls to the light cocoa-colored walls. You can copy this color palette in your bathroom using Sherwin-Williams’ Dusted Truffle (SW 9083).

Who says bathrooms have to be demure? This Florida bungalow’s bathroom has vibrant banana-yellow walls that make you want to start the day on a bright note. Get the look in your bathroom with Sherwin-Williams’ Funky Yellow (SW 6913). 

This plant-filled Philadelphia home is full of retro touches, and the bathroom is a prime example of the ’70s vibes. The owners say this is their favorite room because they could never paint in their former rentals. Snag a similar shade in Benjamin Moore’s Coral Dust (2173-50).

This ultra-cool London home is full of color and pattern, and the bathroom is no exception. Each wall has a different look, from vintage-inspired tile to verdant wallpaper and a glossy blue-green coat of paint. Try Farrow & Ball’s Vardo (No. 288) for a similar look.

A black accent wall makes the bathroom in this Melbourne home look extra sophisticated, while keeping other walls white ensures this sunny area stays fresh and bright-looking. For a similar look, try Behr’s Night Club (N500-7).

This North Carolina bathroom, featuring Sherwin-Williams’ Ardent Coral (SW 6874), is bright and full of life. If there’s a color you love that you wouldn’t necessarily incorporate in a larger room of your home, consider testing it out in a space like a powder bath as a happy, experimental compromise.

What exactly is dreamier about this London bathroom — the pale pink clawfoot tub or the cornflower blue wainscoting and matching vanity? These colors playfully intermingle in this space in the best way. Recreate the wainscoting and vanity colors with Sherwin-Williams’ Daphne (SW 9151).

It’s only fitting that the bathroom in this California craftsman features a robin’s egg blue paint, like Clare’s Views. While the space is small, the mix of patterns, colors, and textures doesn’t feel too busy.

Light pink pairs beautifully with plants and other green accents, as seen in this Washington, D.C. house. This bathroom feels clean and cheerful with its bright colors and decorative pieces. Recreate the look with Farrow and Ball’s Middleton Pink (No. 245).

Light yellow is no longer preserved for beach houses and baby nurseries. This modern farmhouse proves it’s a viable bathroom paint option in any style house or room. See for yourself by testing a light lemon shade like Benjamin Moore’s Light Yellow (2022-60).

Magenta paint might not be the most common choice, particularly in a bathroom, but we love the spunk it adds here. Sherwin-Williams’ Juneberry (SW 65-73) is a close match to the paint color in this modern Chicago home’s bathroom, and a piece of abstract art ties everything together. 

Go green, get clean. This bathroom in a breezy, mostly white Spanish house features a green accent wall that spices up the space without completely overpowering it, which ensures an inspiring retreat. Get the look with Sherwin-Williams’ Privilege Green (SW 6193).

Ready to go to the dark side? Douse your bathroom in a moody navy blue. This vintage Michigan home features a coat of Benjamin Moore’s Polo Blue (2062-10), which pops against the white subway tile and abundant bright-green plants.

Let’s face it: A bright green bathroom, like the one in this vintage-filled Portland house, takes some design guts. However, if you want to pack a punch into your space, green is bound to get the job done in style. Recreate this look in your home with Benjamin Moore’s Traffic Light Green (2032-20).

Torn between wallpaper and paint? Turns out, there’s plenty of room for both. The owner of this whimsical London flat painted one wall and covered the other in a sweet printed paper. A shade like Sherwin-Williams’ Morning Glory (SW 6971) matches the tropical Jane Clayton wallpaper.

Bring a splash of color to a room where the sun doesn’t shine. This happy D.C. home features a small bathroom cleverly painted a cheery yellow to liven up the space. Re-create the look in your home with Sherwin-Williams’ Eye Catching (SW 6914). 

Don’t want to make a statement with a bold hue, but aren’t willing to settle for white? Opt for Valspar’s Morning Lake (7004-21). As seen in this traditional South Carolina house, this shade will warm up your space without overpowering the rest of the room.

I’ll be the first to admit that a bright, reddish coral is by no means subtle. Pair the hue with crisp white tiles to incorporate the color in a small bathroom, as shown in this art-filled Austin home. Try a punchy pigment like Behr’s Red Coral (PPU1-05A).

Orange is one of the most underrated shades on the color wheel, and it’s becoming a more popular hue among designers. A sunny shade like Sherwin-Williams’ Gusto Gold (SW 6904), like in this spacious Chicago house, can be the MVP of your entire design scheme.

Working with a bathroom that’s covered in tile? Don’t worry; there’s still plenty of fun to be had. The owners of this historic Arizona Craftsman made the most of their bathroom by painting the ceiling a moody black. Give this look a try with Clare’s Blackish. 

Give your space the royal treatment with a delicate, regal shade of lavender, as seen in Jewel Marlowe’s Rhode Island home. Trust me — a color like Farrow & Ball’s Calluna (No. 270) is just what your bathroom needs to make a stylish statement.

Want to take your bathroom color scheme to the next level? Opt for a moody shade that will make your guests green with envy. For example, Valspar’s Sherwood Forest (8003-34G) spices up the small space in this budget-friendly renovation.

Believe it or not, a soft, barely-there peach hue can make a major statement. Because most of this earthy Australian abode is painted a pristine white, a shade like Clare’s Wing It acts as a breath of fresh air.

When your walls are covered with towel racks, framed pictures, and plants galore — like in this incredible Chicago home — a crisp white becomes a blank canvas for all of your accoutrements. Having a hard time choosing the right white? Opt for Benjamin Moore’s versatile Simply White (OC-117), which matches all your collected decor.